Movistar Venezuela pulls plug on CDMA

Movistar Venezuela, a subsidiary of Spanish giant Telefonica, has switched off its 2G/3G CDMA mobile and fixed-wireless voice and data network nationwide to focus on its 2G GSM, 3G UMTS and future 4G LTE network development. In a statement printed in Venezuelan newspapers, the cellco informed the public: [via translation] ‘Seeking to provide better communications experience to our users, we are making the necessary investments for the evolution of our technology platform. For this reason, as of 31 March 2014, the CDMA cell cites nationwide will be switched off. This operation means that you can only enjoy the communication service via phone and [other devices based on] GSM technology. Therefore, [technical staff] will be contacting customers for migration of equipment.’ In May 2013 TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate reported that alongside its W-CDMA/HSPA network expansion, Movistar Venezuela was actively promoting the migration of its CDMA2000 user base to its favoured GSM/W-CDMA/HSPA technology platform, having ceased any meaningful investment in CDMA over the previous year. A user technology migration plan continued for the remainder of 2013 and 1Q14, involving a scheme to replace CDMA-based mobile and fixed-wireless end-user equipment/devices to GSM/UMTS equivalents, including swapping EV-DO-based mobile broadband modems to HSPA models.